Jose Figueroa is a married father of 3, over 15 year resident of Langley BC, well respected member of his community. In May, 2010, the IRB ruled he was inadmissible to Canada and a ‘national security threat’ for his peaceful association, as a student in college over twenty years ago, with the FMLN (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front) now the democratically elected government in El Salvador. This makes no sense and many are joining their voices to protest see www.wearejose.com

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Sunday, July 18, 2010

URGENT: Help stop the unjust deportation of Jose Figueroa and his family (including three young Canadian born children)

URGENT Help Stop the Deportation of Jose Figueroa and his family.

BC refugee claimant to be deported, after calling Canada home for 13 years, for his affiliation with the FMLN! José Figueroa is a Salvadorean married father of three Canadian born children who has lived in Langley, BC for over 13 years but who is now facing a deportation order due to his affiliation 20 years ago with the Farabundo Martí Front for National Liberation (FMLN) in El Salvador.

At that time, while a university student, José was working with his student union to speak out against the human rights abuses of a violent repressive government that was using death squads to kill any opposition. When José came to Canada, he told Canadian authorities about his association with the FMLN, a coalition of opposition forces fighting against the murderous Salvadorean military government. The Canadian government knew for 13 years that José had been associated with the FMLN, and it never expressed any concerns - until now. So many years later, Canadian authorities are claiming that the FMLN is a terrorist organization and that José must leave because his association with the organization 20 years ago makes him a security threat.

The FMLN, currently the governing political party in El Salvador, is not a terrorist organization and never has been. It is wrong for the Canadian government to deport José for speaking out for democracy and human rights in El Salvador. José is not a security threat. On the contrary, he is a model citizen who has been a member of the Langley Lutheran church for 13 years. If he is deported this will be devastating for him and his family. What's more, his son has autism and if he is uprooted to El Salvador will not have any of the vital special needs supports available to him now.

The Canadian government's decision to deport José has serious implications not only for José and his family but for all current and former refugee in Canada who were ever involved in movements in their home countries to speak out for democracy and against oppressive and violent regimes.

Figueroa Case: What you can do

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE FIGUEROA FAMILY:

Donate: The legal costs of challenging José's deportation order are high, likely around $15,000, a sum the Figueroa family simply does not have at its disposal. The family's situation is urgent, and any contribution is welcome.Download the petition:This petition is being presented before Parliament. Please sign the petition and/or help gather signatures for it. Send an email to the Ministers of Public Safety and Immigration: Voice your concern to two key Cabinet Ministers who can intervene in José's case.

Note: Parts of this blog are gratefully reprinted from a Toronto area groups website, Barrio Neuvo, that is also working to help challenge the Immigration and Refugee Board's [IRB] decision to deport Jose. http://www.barrio-neuvo.org/